The Portland daily press., 1887-11-26
TWO THANKSGIVING PIES.
BY BEULAH b. DRIscoLL.
Golden Days.l

house. A time always celebrated by the
preparation and consumption of unlimited
good things TO eat, there seemed to be de-
termination ON Grandma Taylor's part to
surpass herself on this particular Thanksgiy-
ing, in compromising the richest, most elabo-
rate and withal most dyspeptic kinds of
edibles.
Grandma's reasons for her somewhat un-
usual exertions were, like herself. good, gen.
erous and substantial. Her son John and
his wife were travelling in Florida, owing to
the rather delicate health of Mrs. Taylor,
for which southern trip had been strongly
recommended by the family physician.
Their only child, Rick, boy of ten years,
was remaining with Grandma Taylor at the
New England farm house during their alb.
sence from home. IN
Fundamentally old oull-was filled
to overlooking with Kicks supposed grief at
parting with his parents, and animated with
the desire to console him, had recourse to
her knowledge of boys and boy nature.
Evolving from that knowledge the convic-
tion that rich indigestible goodies formed
the unfailing remedy for all ills, mental and
physical, which boy flesh is heir to-thereby
proving the depth and keenness of her in
sight--she literally overwhelmed Rick with
dainties, which would have made his mother
tremble for his life, could she have seen
them and witnessed the astonishing rapidity
with which they disappeared into that yawn-
ing cavern, her sons mouth.
Under this wise treatment, Rick bore his
desertion with surprising fortitude, and COM
inundated to Samson his opinion of grand
ma in the following terse remark:
"Grandma's a jolly brickl And she just
knows fellow clean through to the back
bone"
To which Samson agreed with 'Dat's
SOP and chuckle which exhibited two
rows of the whitest worries that ever caused
havoc In a watermelon patch.
Now, as Samson occupies prominent
position in this story. l must tell you who he
was His own description Of himself and
parentage resembled, in all essential parts,
the immortal Topsy's account of herself
The most that could be learned concerning
him was the fact that his mother had left
him at the poor house when he was very
tiny pickaninny indeed. There he had lived
until Grandma Taylor had taken compassion
ON him and received him into her household
as boy-of-all-work, greatly to the disgust of
Polly Ann, tho girl, and Jonas, the hired
man, who had all the repugnance to a pau
per-especially colored one-properf for two
such eminently respectable ''helps" to ex-
hibit.
81 tell you Jonas. its downright onrespec-
table to hev SIGH no account black boy
round the house, said Polly Ann, after Sam
son had been living at the farm a week.
<l,a inf
apples than ever In their flush of indignation,
and her black eyes snapped and sparkled
''like diamonds" thought Jonas admiringly.
"Thats so, Polly Annl his invariable re
ply to all Polly AIMS speeches.
"Why, jest look at himr' went on Polly
farming with her theme. HE looks
-"arecrow you rugged up last
Ann, w. -" Words failed
wusser'n that o.- - the de-
summer, Jonas. And tno,-
in her attempt to express an idea y.
gree Of emaciation of poor Samson.
That's so Polly Ann; and 1T don't seem to
make no difference in the amount he eats.
It's my opinion he eats SIGH 'tarnal lot 1T
makes him poor to carry it,
With this profound remark, Jonas broke
off broom-whisk for a toothpick, and disap-
peared through the kitchen door on his way |
to the barn. ~ ea43a sasQ
But Notwithstanding the strongly-ex-
pressed disapproval of Polly Ann and Jonas,
grandma was firm In her intention of keep |
ing Samson. Her tender heart had yearned |
over the child ever since she saw him stand
ing before the kitchen door, begging to be |
took" from the poor-house, from which he
had run away that morning. ae
After giving him substantial breakfast,
which Polly Ann prepared under protest,
and which, with upturned nose. she declared
"too good for poor-house darkey," grand
ma proceeded with the following catechism
"Why did you run away from the poor
house?" s1e9
"'Cos didn't like 1t dereT
"Where are your father and mother?"
"Dunnol"
"Have you no parents?"
None eber heerd on"
"How old are youP"
"'Bout fifty"
"Why. dear me, child what are You talk
ing about? You cannot be as old as thatV'
"Well, mebbe forty"
AS he seemed to have no idea of his age, or
indeed of the meaning of the term years"
grandma passed on to question number five.
"What is your name ?"
Samson" III ssssaf E ansa
The absurdity Of this name, when applied
to such an exceedingly diminutive youth,
called forth giggle from even the irate
Polly, while loud "Haw, hawl" attested to
the amusement Of Jonas.
sBut that can't be your right name. you
know" said grandma, depressing smile.
s'Only one cher had"
All this time the bare black toes had been
digging into the door mat. and the black
knuckles now evincing an alarming tendency
to dig out the black, bead-like eyes, grandma
said, hastily:
"Well, stop wriggling and If you'll be
good boy, and promise to mind well, you
may stay and help Jonas--for awhile, at
least" s . f
Jonas's scorn at the idea of such an atom
of humanity helping" him here reached
such climax that he was obliged to go to
the barn and toss hay vigorously for half an
hour to give vent to his feelings. -
Well, 1t all ended in Samson's being in
stalled as a sort of universal factotum at the
farmhouse, where he had been about six
months when Rick came to spend the win
ter.
With the broadly democratic views Of an
American boy of ten years, Rick constituted
him his friend, valet, crony and contidant by
turns. 1925
Samson had not grown perceptibly since
his arrival at the farmhouse, while the
amount Of food he consumed really seemed
to Justify Jonas's opinion.
He. no less than Rick, rejoiced in the
Thanksgiving preparations. All the spare
time left him, after catching and picking
fowls, stoning raisins, chopping citron,
cleaning knives and carrying wood was
spent in conducting Rick from cellar to pan
try, and pointing out, with glistening eyes,
the pyramids of doughnuts, mountains of
cake, and rows upon rows of pies.
There was but one drawback to Kicks en-
joyment. as o.
Grandma Taylor had said to him, with
voice full OF regret and sympathyi
''Now, Rick. promised yeur mother that
I would not let you have any mince pie
while you were here. She says 1t never
agrees with you, and while do not see how